[Video] Teens On the Autism Spectrum Can Find a Safe Space In Dungeons and Dragons

Can Dungeons and Dragons help build social skills?

We sat down with Adam Johns, one of the founders of Wheelhouse Workshop, to talk about tabletop roleplaying games and what we can learn from playing them.

Dungeons and Dragons is a game where each player makes a character, and together the players go on a quest—usually to save the world or find some awesome loot. The game is played with dice and figurines and a map or two—but mostly with words. The “Dungeon Master” dictates the story to the players, telling them what they see and letting them decide what to do next.

At Wheelhouse Workshop, Adam Johns runs DnD sessions for teens with autism and Asperger’s. In the sessions, players are encouraged to get into character and express themselves in ways they might be unable to in other situations.

Johns says that the sessions help teens learn to handle stress and make friends. Check out their website to learn more, and watch the video above to learn more about how Dungeons and Dragons can help teenagers.